Collapsible filing rack



A ril "14, 1942. G. R. EIDE COLLAPSIBLE FILING RACK Filed Dec. 5, 1941 INVENTOR Ga 2 286? BY W Patented Apr. 14, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT 1 rrlCE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in' collapsible filing racks. 7

It is an object of the invention to provide a collapsible filing rack which" can be quickly assembled or taken apart, and which consists only of flat pieces of material which'can be readily packed for shipment or carried from place to place.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible filing rack which consists of four fiat pieces of material so shaped that when assembled they form a strong and rigid stand without the use of any auxiliary fastening means for securing the parts to one another.

A further object of the invention is to provide a collapsible filing rack which is both cheapand simple to manufacture.

Having thus briefly stated some of the objects and advantages of the invention I will now proceed to describe a preferred embodiment thereof with the aid of the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of the invention assembled and ready for use.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the invention only partially assembled, and

Figures 3 and 4 are sections on the lines 33 and l4 respectively of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a partial perspective View showing a slightly modified construction of the back.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawing, the collapsible filing rack consists essentially of four flat pieces of material; a base 2, two sides 3 and 3a, and a back 4. These pieces are made to engage one another so that when they are assembled they form a strong and rigid rack.

Formed in the front margin of the base 2 adjacent each side thereof and parallel with the latter is a slot 5. The rear edge of the base 2 is forwardly and outwardly stepped on each side as shown at 6. The side 5a of each step is forwardly and outwardly curved to merge with the adjacent lateral margin of the base, and the side 8b of each step lies substantially in alignment 3 A slot I0 is formed through the back 4 adja cent each side thereof which extends upwardly from the bottom margin of the said back; and also provided through the back intermediately of its height and on each side thereof in alignment with the slots H! are one or more substantially L-shaped slots Illa the lower portions of which extend laterally. outward through the lateral margins of the said back.

To assemble the rack, first one front corner of the base 2 is inserted through the slot 1 in one of the sides? or 311 and the forward wall of the said slot is engagedby the inner transverse wall of the base slot 5. Then the rear portion of the side 3 or 3a is swung inwardly into engagement with the face-6b of the step 6 at which time the rear extremity of the slot 1 has assumed its position in propinquity to the face 6a of the step 6. Then the other side 3a or 3 is similarly app ied to the other side of the base 2.

The bottom slots ill in the back 4 ar placed over the bottom recesses 9 and then the upper portion of the back 4 is moved forward so that the upper tongues 8 pass through the slots Ill-a.

Then the back is lowered into position so that the transverse walls of the slots l0 rest in the bottom recesses 91 upon the upper sides of the bottom extensions 8a and the opposite sides of these slots I0 lie adjacent the inner and outer faces of the sides 3 and 3a; and the transverse walls of the slots lfla rest in the upper recesses 9 upon the upper faces of the other extensions 811.

It will be noted in the drawing that the side 3 is provided with three tongues 8 and extensions 8a and the side to with only two. It is of course understood that the number of these tongues and extensions may be varied according to the height of the rack, it is however preferable that the same number of tongues and extensions and their cooperating slots ma be provided on both sides of the rack. The slots Illa may either be L-shaped as shown in Figures 1 and 2, or if preferred, they may be made as shown in the modification illustrated in Figure 5 wherein the slots Hlaa are completely encircled by portions of the back 4. In either case the method of assembly remains the same.

While the base 2 is shown sloping downward somewhat toward the rear it may be horizontally arranged if preferred. In either case however I find it advisable to arrange the back 4 at right angles to the base so that when the latter is slightly inclined as above stated the back is then wardly stepped at its lateral extremities, the sides having substantially horizontal slots formed therethrough intermediately of their ,length to receive the lateral margins of the base, the transverse walls of the base slots seating adjacent the front extremities of the side slots and the rear extremities of said side slots receiving the steps formed upon the base, the sides also having vertically aligned, and rearwardly projecting tongues extending through slots formed in the said back, and said back projecting laterally outward beyond said sides.

, -2.. A collapsible filing rack comprising a base, two sides and a back, the sides being substantially horizontally slotted to'receive and support the lateral extremities of the base, coacting means integral with the base and sides preventingthei-r accidental disengagement, the sides also having vertically aligned rearward extensions terminating in upwardly projecting tongues thereby forming upwardly open recesses between the tongues and the rear edge faces of the sides, the back having vertically aligned rows of slots formed therethrough, the bottom slots in the back extending upwardly from its lower margin,

the upper transverse walls of saidbottom slots resting in said recesses upon the bottom ex- I tensions, the other back slots permitting passage of the upper tongues therethrough, the upper transverse walls of said other back slots resting in the upper of said recesses and upon the upper extensions, and said back extending laterally outward beyond said sides.

3. A collapsible filing rack comprising four flat pieces of material includinga base, two sides and a back, the base having a slot formed in its front margin adjacent each lateral extremity and its rear margin being forwardly and outwardly stepped at its lateral extremities, the sides having substantially horizontal slots formed therethrough intermediately of their length through which the lateral margins of the base extend, the transverse walls of the base slots seating adjacent the front extremities of the side slots and the rear extremities of said side slots receiving the steps formed upon thebase, the sides also having vertically aligned rearward extensions terminating in upwardly projecting tongues thereby forming upwardly open recesses between the tongues andv the rear edge faces of the sides the back having vertically aligned rows of slots formed therethrough, the bottom slots in the back extending upwardly from its lower margin, the upper transverse walls of said bottom slots lying in the lower recesses and resting upon the bottom extensions, the other back slots permitting passage of the upper tongues therethrough, the upper transverse walls of said other back slots resting in the upper recesses and upon the upper extensions, and said back extending laterally outward beyond said sides.

- GUY R. EIDE. 

